Frankfurt, Germany: travel guide
Glass towers beside a half-timbered old town and a river of museums
The financial heartbeat of continental Europe — home to the European Central Bank and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
About Frankfurt
Frankfurt is best known as a financial centre, and its glass skyscrapers, which are unusual for Germany, rise above the River Main. Yet the city also has a rebuilt old town around the Römerberg square and a long line of museums along the riverbank.
Things to do in Frankfurt include walking the Museumsufer, riding up one of the towers for the skyline view, exploring the historic centre and seeking out apple wine in a traditional tavern in Sachsenhausen. Green spaces such as the Palmengarten offer a break from the city streets.
Frankfurt is a major transport hub, so it suits short stays, connecting stops and business travel with some sightseeing. Spring and early autumn are comfortable, and the Christmas market in December is a seasonal draw.
- Country
- Germany
- Currency
- EUR
- Time zone
- Europe/Berlin
- Nearest airport
- FRA
Last updated
Top places to visit in Frankfurt
Römerberg Old Town
historic old town square · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Frankfurt's reconstructed medieval old town — Römerberg square flanked by the Römer city hall (stepped gable, seat of city council since 1405), the Nikolaikirche and the Ostzeile row of half-timbered houses. The Christmas Weihnachtsmarkt…
Sachsenhausen Apple Wine Quarter
traditional pub district · 4.4 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Frankfurt's most authentic neighbourhood south of the Main — the highest concentration of traditional Apfelwein (Apple Wine / Ebbelwoi) taverns in the world. Served in a Bembel (stoneware pitcher) through a Geripptes glass. The Museumsufer…
Städel Museum
fine art museum · 4.7 rating · about 2.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Germany's most important art museum founded 1815 — 4,300 paintings spanning 700 years: Botticelli, Van Eyck, Dürer, Rembrandt, Monet, Picasso, Bacon. The underground extension (2012) added 3,000 m² lit by 195 circular skylights. One of the…
Frankfurt Christmas Market
christmas-market · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The Frankfurt Christmas Market — one of Germany's largest and oldest Christmas markets at Römerberg square, with the spectacular wooden stalls, the giant Christmas tree, the historic German crafts, and the famous Bethmännchen marzipan…
Frankfurt Eiserner Steg Bridge
iron-bridge · 4.7 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The Eiserner Steg — Frankfurt's iconic 1869 iron pedestrian bridge over the Main River, covered in thousands of love locks, with the spectacular views of the skyline and the Sachsenhausen riverbank.
Frankfurt Mainufer Riverside Walk
riverside-walk · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The Mainufer riverside walk — Frankfurt's spectacular promenade along the Main River, with the Museumsufer cultural mile, the historic bridges, the riverside cafes, and the contrast of the modern skyline.
Frankfurt Maintower Observation
observation-deck · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · entry €9 (≈ ₹960)
The Main Tower observation deck — the public viewing platform on the 200m tower, with the spectacular 360-degree views of the Frankfurt skyline, the Main River, and the surrounding hills.
Frankfurt Heidelberg Day Trip
university-city · 4.8 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip from Frankfurt to Heidelberg — the spectacular university city with the famous Heidelberg Castle ruins, the iconic Old Bridge, the Philosopher's Walk, and the romantic Old Town.
Main Tower Observatory
skyscraper observation deck · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · entry €9 (≈ ₹960)
Frankfurt's only publicly accessible skyscraper platform — 200 m tall on Neue Mainzer Straße, offering 360° views of the Rhine-Main plain and Taunus hills. The open-air platform is at 187 m. Rooftop restaurant/bar (Restaurant 160°)…
Palmengarten Botanical Garden
botanical garden · 4.5 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
One of Germany's finest botanical gardens — 22 ha of themed gardens including the spectacular Tropicarium greenhouse complex (tropical rainforest, semi-desert, mangrove, sub-Antarctic zones under one roof), rose gardens, the Subantarktis…
Frankfurt Banking District Skyline
skyscrapers · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The Frankfurt Banking District (Bankenviertel) — Germany's only American-style skyscraper skyline, with the spectacular Commerzbank Tower (the tallest building in Germany at 259m) and the European Central Bank.
Frankfurt Old Sachsenhausen Apple Wine
apple-wine-district · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
The Old Sachsenhausen district — Frankfurt's historic apple wine quarter, with the famous Ebbelwoi taverns serving the local Apfelwein (apple wine) in distinctive ribbed glasses, the cobblestone lanes, and the authentic Frankfurter culture.
Things to do
- Frankfurt Museumsufer 2-Day Museum Pass Cultural · 8 h · from EUR 19 per person
Where to stay in Frankfurt
- Sachsenhausen about EUR 120 per night
Frankfurt's most atmospheric neighbourhood to stay — the Apple Wine taverns are your evening entertainment, the Museumsufer museums are your daytime, and the Römerberg is a 15-minute walk across the bridge. Best…
- Innenstadt (Banking District) about EUR 165 per night
Frankfurt's central business district — surrounded by the skyline, the Zeil shopping street, the Römerberg and the Kleinmarkthalle (food market). Convenient but business-hotel prices. Best for transit-heavy trips.
Hotels
- Villa Kennedy Frankfurt 5-star · EUR 280 to EUR 890 per night
- Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof 5-star · EUR 320 to EUR 2,200 per night
- Five Elements Hostel Frankfurt 2-star · EUR 20 to EUR 95 per night
Where to eat
- Zum Gemalten Haus German, Frankfurt · about EUR 18 per person
- Äppelwoi Wagner German, Frankfurt · about EUR 16 per person
- Metropol Restaurant European, International · about EUR 38 per person
Getting to Frankfurt
Airport: Frankfurt (FRA)
Getting around
- Metro
- Transit Pass
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Frankfurt Bahnhofsviertel Night Safety
Kaiserstraße, Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof area
The streets immediately around Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof (especially Kaiserstraße and Moselstraße) have an active red-light and drug scene that can be intimidating at night. No danger for pedestrians walking through purposefully, but do not linger.
How to avoid it: Stay aware, don't engage with approach vendors, and walk confidently through. The district improves 200 m in any direction.
Apple Wine Overcharging in Sachsenhausen
Schweizer Straße tourist restaurants
Some Sachsenhausen restaurants that target tourists list a price per Schoppen (0.25L) rather than per Bembel (0.5L pitcher), then charge for multiple refills without asking. Check the price of a full Bembel before ordering.
How to avoid it: Ask 'Was kostet der Bembel?' (how much is the pitcher?). Traditional taverns like Zum Gemalten Haus and Äppelwoi Wagner price per pitcher and do not play tricks.
More in Germany
Frequently asked questions about Frankfurt
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Frankfurt?
- The highest-rated places in our Frankfurt guide are Frankfurt Christmas Market, Frankfurt Heidelberg Day Trip, Städel Museum, Frankfurt Eiserner Steg Bridge, Frankfurt Mainufer Riverside Walk.
- Where should I stay in Frankfurt?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Frankfurt: Sachsenhausen, Innenstadt (Banking District).
- How do I get around Frankfurt?
- Ways to get around Frankfurt covered in our guide: Metro, Transit pass, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Frankfurt?
- Scams reported to us for Frankfurt include Frankfurt Bahnhofsviertel Night Safety; Apple Wine Overcharging in Sachsenhausen. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- Which airport is nearest to Frankfurt?
- The nearest airport to Frankfurt has the code FRA.